Machine for cleaning the exterior surfaces of pipes



March 17, 1953 J. E. HAusx-:R

MACHINE FOR CLEANING THE EXTERIOR SURFACES OF' PIPES Filed April 5, 1948 AJ E. HA Us5/e ATTORNEY March 17, 1953 J. E. HAUSER 2,631,315

MACHINE FOR CLEANING THE EXTERIOR SURFCES OF' PIPES Filed April 5, 1948 4 sheets-sheet 2 J. E HUSE/Q IN V EN TOR.

A 7' TORNEV March 17, 1953 J. E. HAUsER MACHINE F'OR CLEANING THE EXTERIOR SURFACES OF' PIPES 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed April 5, 1948 J. ,5?r HA USER JNVENTOR.

Y t l r rom/Er March 17, 1953 J. HAUSER 2,631,315

MACHINE FOR CLEANING THE EXTERloR sURFAcEs oF PIPEs Filed April 5, 194s 4 sheets-sheet 4 l J. E, HA Us5@ (7.5% 6: yINVENTOR.

- A rToR/VEV Patented Mar. 17, 1953 MACHINE FOR CLEANING THE EXTERIOR SURFACES F PIPES Joseph E. Hauser, Fort Worth, Tex.

Application April 5, l19418, Serial No. 18,891

3 Claims.

This invention relates to pipe `cleaning machines and has reference to a construction and arrangement for scraping, cleaning, and brushing pipe.

The invention has particular reference to a machine adaptable for operation in oil fields and on pipe lines where casings or pipes are reconditioned for further use. Pipe lines are often coated with a heavy layer of tar-like substance which must be removed in order to inspect the surface; and when there is no protective coating on the pipe, the .accumulated rust must be removed. Since the pipes or casings to be cleaned are of relatively large size, -it necessarily follows that the pipe cleaning machine must also be comparatively large.

Although machines for the general purpose of cleaning large pipes have been heretofore made, they included massive parts which revolved around the pipe being cleaned and caused the machine to shake violently. Such prior machines were difficult -of adjustment, particularly when resetting the machine to accommodate different diameters of pipe. Also, such prior machines did not include the eicient flailing or cleaning operation which is a feature of the present invention.

An object A.of the invention is to provide a construction and arrangement for cleaning pipe whereby the fast rotation of 'a large mass around the pipe being cleaned is avoided and thereby reducing the vibration'of the machine.

Another object of the invention is to provide a flailing or cleaning assembly in a pipe machine whereby collars and projecting patches of various thicknesses on the surface of the pipe are readily passed through the cleaning head. Heretofore, the shafts carrying rotary cleaning tools were misaligned because of lack of clearance between the tool and the projection on the pipe.

Another object of the invention is to provide a scraper head for a pipe cleaning machine which may be easily and readily adjusted to operate upon various diameters of pipe.

A further object of the invention is to provide a pipe cleaning machine which will operate upon curved or slightly bent lengths of pipe when cleaning `and reconditioning the same.

Another object of the invention is to provide a pipe cleaning machine for stationary operation or for gripping the pipe of a pipe line and propelling itself along the length of pipe during its operation.

These and other objectsvwill become apparent from the following description of the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure lsis ,a side'velevatlonal view of a pipe cleaning machine embodying the features of tne present invention, with part of the construction broken and in section.

Figure 2 is a sectional .end view taken on line 2--2 of Figure l.

Figure 3 is an enlarged sectional View taken on lines 3-3 of Figure l, and particularly showing the cleaning head for flailing the pipe after the same has been scraped.

Figure 4 is a broken elevational view taken at a right angle with respect to Figure 3.

Figure 5 is an elevational view of one of the scraper mounting rings and showing one of the scraper adjusting arms mounted thereon.

Figure 6 is an elevational view of one of the nailing heads, shown in broken section, and illustrating the relation of the said head relative to a portionoi pipe being cleaned.

Figure '7 is a perspective view of one of the nailing units and particularly showing the arrangement whereby the ails may be reversed on their supporting pins .when corresponding ends of .the Iiails have become worn.

The exemplary form of the invention shown includes a pair of rectangular frame members I of tubular steel having their corners bent to form curves 2. lAs shown in Figures 1 and 2, the side members I are parallel with respect to each other along their lengths, and are inclined toward each otherat their upper ends where they support an engine 3 mounted on cross members 4 secured between the upper portions of the said frame members. The lower portions of the frame members I are similarly spaced by cross members 5 secured therebetween. The frame members I and cross members 4 and 5 are secured to each other by means of welding,.as are other parts to be referred to when the securing means is not otherwise described, or when assembled in a manner obvious to those skilled in the art.

A transmission 6 is connected with the drive .shaft 'I of vthe engine 3 by means of a coupling 8,

the purpose of the transmissions being to regulate and actuate crawlers for moving the pipe I0 to be cleaned longitudinally through the frame, i. e., between the side members I and the cross members .4 and 5 when the machine is stationary. The pipe I0 is supported on freely rotatable crawler wheels II which are arranged in pairs beneath the pipe near each end of .the describedframe assembly. The crawler wheels II, which have teeth I2 about their peripheries, are mounted in pairs on threaded axles I3, and which axles are smooth .at their Ven cls Where they are journaled in bearings I4. Each of the two lower frame cross members havehingedly attached platforms I5 Y having pedestals IB lmounted on their upper surfaces for supporting the bearings I4 and the crawler wheels II. The platforms I5 have pairs of compression springs I1 under them for normally raising the crawler wheels iI and pressing the pipe l against the upper or driven crawler wheels 9. The compression springs I'l are retained by mounting the same over bolts I8 having their lower ends secured to cross member I9 which is secured at right angles to the lower portions of the frame members I. The upper ends of the bolts I3 slidably pass through the referred to plates I5. By means of the arcuate corners of the frame members I, and the engagement of the crawler Wheels 9 on a length of pipe line III, the machine may be self-propelled as it operates.

The transmission drive 2D, by means of a sprocket 2I and chain 22 mounted thereon, drives a sprocket 23 mounted at one end of a shaft 24 which extends to the other forward end of the machine, as particularly shown in Figures 1, 2, and 3. Above each pair of driven crawler wheels 9 there is a speed reducer 25 having a sprocket' 26 and chain 2l. The speed reducers 25 are mounted on the upper portion of one of the rectangular frame members I. The driven crawler wheels 9, previously referred to, are mounted in pairs on threaded shafts 28 which have smooth ends where they are journaled in eccentric bearings 29. One end of each shaft 28 has a sprocket 36 and is driven by the chains 2 from the speed reducers 25. The eccentric bearings 29 are mounted in adjustable bearing housings 3l whereby the relative height of each shaft 28 may be varied. The bearing housings 3I are at the lower ends of brackets 32 which depend from the upper cross members 4. The driven crawler wheels 9 have teeth 33 for engaging the pipe I0 and passing the same through the machine over the lower crawler wheels II. When the machine is used as a mobile unit, the driven teeth 33 provide traction on the pipe Ill.

A double sprocket 34 is mounted on the engine drive shaft 'I and is connected with driven sprockets 35 mounted on a shaft 36 supported in bearings 37 on the upper part of one of the side frames I. The drive shaft 36 is offset intermediate its ends where it is coupled by a universal joint 38. The purpose of the last described arrangement has to do with a convenient manner for driving and rotating Scrapers 39 around the pipe I6.

The last mentioned scraping operation is carried out by means of a sprocket 43 on the end of the shaft 36, and which sprocket drives a ring gear 4I for receiving a. length of pipe IIJ through its center. An endless chain 42 connects the sprocket 4D with the ring gear 4I. Concentric scraper mounting rings 43 are spaced from and secured to opposite sides of the ring gear 4I by means of spacers 44 in the form of short lengths of rod which are welded in place. A detail of one of the scraper mounting rings is illustrated in Figure 5, Equally spaced bolts 45 threadedly engage tapped holes 46 in the face of the ring 43 for pivotally supporting arms 41 having stub shafts 48 in corresponding ends. The arms 4l receive other bolts 49 in their other ends which, in turn, may be selectively secured in tapped holes 50 radially disposed about each of the first referred to tapped holes 46. Multiples of the previously referred to scrapers 39 are mounted on each of the stub shafts 48. It is to be noted that the stub shafts 48 project forwardly and rearwardly with respect to the ring 4 gear 4I and their mounting rings 43, Each individual scraper 39 is conventional in construction and is not, therefore, described in detail, be it suicient to say that each is pivotally mounted on its stu'b shaft 48 near its center and has its scraper end 5I, particularly shown in Fig. 2, positioned for scraping action against the surface of the pipe I0. The end of the scraper 39 opposite the scraper end 5I is in the form of an arm 52 and each group of Scrapers 39, lying in a plane parallel to the length of pipe I0 is provided with compression springs 53 in the manner illustrated in Figure 2. Near the shaft 48, each scraper 39 is provided with a projection 54 which pivotally receives a guide 55 over which the springs are respectively positioned to bear against each said projection and an adjacent scraper varm 52. Thus, it may be seen that by locating the bolts 43 at the end of the stub shaft supporting arms 41, the Scrapers 39 may be readily adjusted to accommodate various diameters of pipe without having to relocate the pivot bolts 45 or disconnect the springs 53.

A scraper housing 5E, secured to and depending from the upper cross members 4, encloses the ring gear 4I and attached scraper mounting rings 43, and is provided with openings 57 in opposite sides to accommodate the projecting scraper supporting shafts 46. Inside of the housing 53 and mounted on the inner walls thereof, there are eccentrically adjustable roller bearings 58 for `engaging and supporting the peripheries of the scraper mounting rings 43.

Referring now to Figures l, 3, and 4, the pipe cleaning machine is provided with a cleaning and brushing assembly wherein the ails or cleaners 59 and brushes 66 revolve at relatively high speeds, whereas the assembly turns about the pipe I slowly, thus preventing excessive vibration of the entire machine. rlhe shaft 36, between the universal joint 38 and the driven double sprocket 35 is provided with another sprocket 6I which drives alarge ring gear 62 by means of an endless chain 63. The cleaning and brushing assembly is supported in circular tubular members 64 which are spaced from each other and secured to the upper and lower portions of the side frames i. The lower portions of the circular members E4 are truncated where they are secured to cross members 65 positioned between the lower horizontal lengths of the side frames I. Other horizontal cross members 66, particularly shown in Figure 3, are secured between the circular members 64 vand support eccentrically adjustable rollers 6l, and, as particularly shown in Figure 4, the referred to rollers are mounted on axles 68 which extend from one horizontal support 56 to the corresponding support 66 in the adjacent tubular member 64. Each roller 6l has a pair of flanges 69 spaced from each end thereof for rotatably engaging and supporting the peripheries of spaced mounting rings l. The referred to ring gear 62 is positionedbetween the mounting rings 1I), but is not fixedly secured thereto. Rollers lI are mounted on axles 'I2 and extend between the mounting rings '.'Il for engaging internal flanges I3 formed in the inside peripheries `of the ring gear 52. The axles 12 include eccentrically adjustable bearings 14, as particularly shown in Figure 3. Internally of the ring gear 62 there is a chain gear 'I5 which is secured to an internal rib 16 by means of boltsv TI. The purpose of the last referred to gear-1551s to drivesprckets I8 which are mounted on shafts 19 extending through the pairs of mounting rings 10 and outwardly therefrom.

On the end of each shaft 19, toward the described scraper arrangement, there is a pair of fiailing heads, each comprised of spaced pairs of disk plates 99 and having multiple flails 59 previously referred to, pivotally mounted on pins BI which are secured to and positioned between the pairs of disk plates.

The flails 59 are rectangular in shape and are of hard material, such as tempered steel. Holes 82 are formed through the nails 59 near each end whereby the same may be reversed on the pins 8l when one end becomes worn. As shown in Figure 6, the ails 59 are provided with stops 83 which extend through and between the pairs of disk plates 80 so as to limit the pivotal movement of the flails and cause them to strike the pipe I for cleaning the same. The limited movement of one of the ilails 59 is shown by means of dotted lines in a broken portion of Figure 6. As shown in Figure 1, each shaft 19 carries a pair of flailing heads which are retained thereon by means of nuts 94.

The ends of the shafts 19, opposite the fiailing heads described, are provided with circular brush units 85 which are held between disk retainers 86 and secured on the said shaft by means of nuts 81. The described sprockets 16, mounted on each of the described shafts 19, mesh with the internal chain gear 15 for rotating the iiails 59 and brushes 60 at a relatively high speed.

The ilails 59 and brushes 69 are rotated about the pipe I0 at a relatively low speed by means of a ring gear 88 secured to the inner face of one of the mounting rings 19. A sprocket 99 mounted on the drive shaft 36 drives a sprocket 99 on a speed reducer 9i by means of an endless chain 92. By means of another sprocket 93 on the speed reducer 9| and an endless chain 99, the ring gear 88 slowly turns the entire flail and brush assembly and causes a planetary action of the same around the pipe I0. The speed reducer 9| is supported on the upper part of the frame I by means of a bracket 95.

In operation, the pipe I9 to be cleaned is first engaged between the upper and lower crawler wheels 9 and Il near the Scrapers 39. i When the machine is stationary, the driven crawler Wheels 9 feed the pipe inwardly where it is scraped by means of the described Scrapers 39. As the action of the las-t referred to crawler wheels 9 continue, the pipe I9 is acted upon by the ails 59 in the manner described, and thus cleans and smoothes the same. As the pipe I0 continues through the machine it is brushed by the brushes 60. The driven crawler wheels 9 near the brushes 60 and the supporting crawler wheels I I therebeneath engage the pipe I9 and continue the longitudinal movement of the same through the assembly. After cleaning, the pipe is inspected and repaired if necessary. By reason of the resilient action of the described Scrapers 39, ails 59, and the brushes 50, projections on the pipe I0, such as collars and patches, may be accommodated since the referred to parts will open suiciently to allow the projections to pass.

The described form of the invention is not restrictive, but may be made in many ways within the scope of the appended claims.

What is -claimed is:

1. In a pipe cleaning machine including a frame, a pair of spaced mounting rings rotatably supported by said frame, shafts extending through and rotatably mounted in said rings, sprockets on said shafts between said rings, an internal ring gear meshing with said sprockets, cleaning heads mounted on said shafts, a ring gear mounted on at least one of said mounting rings, driven shafts supported by said frame outwardly of said mounting rings, driving means connecting one of said driven shafts with said internal ring gear, and driving means connecting the remaining driven shaft with said ring gear mounted on said mounting ring.

2.. In a pipe cleaning machine including a frame, rollers supported by said frame, a pair of spaced mounting rings rotatably engaged by said rollers, shafts extending through and rotatably mounted in the said rings, sprockets on said shafts between said rings, an internal ring gear meshing with said sprockets, disks secured on said shafts, fiails pivotally carried by said disks, a ring gear mounted on at least one of said mounting rings, driven shafts supported by said frame and positioned outwardly of said mounting rings, driving means connecting one of said driven shafts with said internal ring gear, and driving means connecting the remaining driven shaft with said ring gear mounted on said mounting ring.

3. In a pipe cleaning machine, a frame1 pipe supports positioned for moving the pipe to be cleaned relative to said machine, said pipe sup ports including pairs of freely rotatable crawler wheels for supporting the said pipe and driven pairs of crawler wheels for engaging said pipe, a cleaning assembly including a pair of spaced mounting rings rotatably supported by said frame, shafts extending through and rotatably mcunted in said rings, sprockets on said shafts between said rings, a rotatable internal ring gear arranged for meshing with said sprockets, cleaning heads mounted on said shafts, a ring gear secured to one of said mounting rings, driven shafts supported by said frame outwardly of said mounting rings, driving means connecting one of the last said driven shafts with said internal ring gear, and driving means connecting the remaining driven shaft with said ring gear secured to said mounting ring.

JOSEPH E. HAUSER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 67,112 Heifron July 23, 1967 856,614 Wright June 11, 1907 1,144,759 Eek June 29, 1915 1,176,452 Hubbell Mar. 21, 1916 1,215,482 Chamberlain Feb. 13, 1917 1,370,769 Sperling Mar. 8, 1921 1,406,047 Mikshel Feb. 7, 1922 1,718,179 Olson June 18, 1929 1,901,247 Kinzbach Mar. 14, 1933 1,941,002 Harrison Dec. 26, 1933 2,064,577 Thayer Dec. 15, 1936 2,279,922` Kraner Apr. 14, 1942 2,299,523 Carpmail Oct. 20, 1942 2,302,196 Downs et al Nov. 17, 1942 2,307,449 Carpmail Jan. 5, 1943 2,353,125 Carpmail July 11, 1944 2,359,568 Logan Oct. 3, 1944 2,427,129 Fields Sept. 9, 1947 2,436,099 Cummings et al. Feb. 17, 1948 2,471,580 Perrault et al. May 31, 1949 

